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Friday, September 17, 2010

WRN Newsletter Schedule

Dear Listener,

Welcome to the latest edition of the WRN Newsletter which keeps you informed of upcoming programme highlights on WRN's English networks that broadcast to North America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East and the Asia Pacific region.

Happy Reading and Happy Listening!

The WRN Broadcast Team

Please send emails to contactus@wrnbroadcast.com or letters and postcards to WRN Broadcast, PO Box 1212, London SW8 2ZF, UK. You can also reach us via fax at +44 20 7896 9007 or via telephone at +44 20 7896 9010.

This week "A Prairie Home Companion" is getting ready for next week's Season Opener, Street Dance & Meatloaf Supper with a remix of opening shows from the past few years. Connie Evingson sings "Autumn in St. Paul", Sara Jarosz sings "Song Up in Her Head", and Butch Tompson plays "The Working Man Blues". GK reads "The Wild Swans at Coole" by William Butler Yeats, The Old Crow Medicine Show live up to their raucous reputation, and we make a stop by the reference desk at the Herndon County Library to check in on Ruth Harrison. The hangdogs of honky-tonk, Austin's Derailers, sing "Who's Going to Mow Your Grass", Jerry Douglas asks "Who's Your Uncle", and in Lake Wobegon, Dorothy at the Chatterbox Café is raising eyebrows with a new hairdo.

In Africa and Europe: 1100 BST / 1200 CET / 1200 CAT

Asia CallingSaturday, September 18 and Sunday, September 19 2010:

Developed to reflect the lives and reality of citizens across the region, "Asia Calling" is a weekly radio programme from Indonesia’s Radio News Agency KBR68H.

This week on "Asia Calling":

Bangladesh’s foreign funded anti-terrorism unit accused of extra-judicial killings: What happens when a country’s elite police force begins to murder its own citizens? That’s what’s been happening since 1994 in Bangladesh when the Rapid Action Battalion, or RAB was set up to counter criminality. Rights groups have documented over 1200 cases where people were gunned down by the RAB in extra-judicial killings known as ”cross-fire ”. Our reporter in Bangladesh, Ric Wasserman investigates.

A much needed free lunch for Indian school children: In India, that old adage "there's no such thing as a free lunch" is just about dead, it seems, at least for millions of the teeming country's school kids. Jasvinder Sehgal in Jaipur reports on what the Indians claim is the world's most ambitious scheme aimed at feeding children a free, healthy lunch.

What’s it like wearing a burqa?: A burqa is a piece of clothing that covers a woman from head to foot. There is small opening for the eyes, but the rest of the body, except the hands, are covered. The burqa is usually made of light clothing. In some parts of the world it’s essential for Muslim women to wear it outside the house. 24 year old university student Gulali Ismael is a Muslim women’s rights activist from the Pakistani capital Islamabad. She wanted to know what it was like for Afghan women who are in some regions forced to wear burqas. So she travelled to the town of Jalabad and went to a market. Mudassar Shah went along with her.

Kicking the Habit in Rajasthan: India’s poppy fields are a precious commodity – both locally and globally. In 2007 alone, the Indian government reported that it produced almost 350 tones of raw, legal opium for the international pharmaceutical industry. Running alongside this legal trade, however, is a thriving black market. In the desert state of Rajasthan in India’s west, people’s thirst for opium is at its greatest. Here, the drug’s availability coupled with its use in traditional ceremonies has led to widespread addiction. At the frontline is a small detoxification centre. Which – for almost three decades – has been waging a battle using unique and sometimes controversial tactics, as Lauren Farrow reports.

In North America: 2230 ET / 1930 PT

In Europe: 2100 BST / 2200 CET

In Africa and Asia 1100 UTC / 1300 CET / 1300 CAT

ABC / Radio Australia - Saturday, September 18 2010:

To find out about all the latest inventions and technological progress made in many different fields, tune in to Radio Australia's science magazine "Innovations"… A showcase of Australian design, discovery, invention, engineering and research skills!

Sunday, September 19 2010: Radio Australia

From dreaming to depression, addiction to artificial intelligence, consciousness to coma, psychoanalysis to psychopathy, free will to forgetting - "All in the Mind" explores the human condition through the mind's eye.

In North America: 1530 ET / 1230 PT

In Europe: 0830 BST / 0930 CET

Radio GuangdongSaturday, September 18 and Sunday, September 19 2010:

Radio Guangdong, established in October 1949, is a leading radio group in south China. Radio Guangdong programmes cover political, economic, social and cultural issues; programmes about Guangdong, programmes about Guangdong people and programmes linking Guangdong with the world.

This week on "Guangdong Today": Citizens Utter Opinions for the Asian Games Vehicles Lanes / Brand-name products zone to set up in 108th Canton Fair / NBA China Games will come to the Guangzhou International Sports and Entertainment Center in October / Official English publication for Asian Games unveiled.

In “Asian Games Live!”, an American artist, Daniel Krause, who has been living in Guangzhou for over two decades, will tell us what he thinks are the most important changes which have taken place in the city ahead of the Games and how the Guangzhou Asian Games have given a boost to the development of Guangzhou’s art scene. Find out more in “Asian Games Live!”

At “My Guangdong”, Rolf, the boss of a Swedish restaurant in Guangzhou, will explain his ambition of opening a wine-bar and restaurant in Guangzhou. But luxury wines aren’t his only passion and during his free time he can be found roaming the streets of Guangzhou in search of small traditional restaurants.

Radio NetherlandsSaturday, September 18 and Sunday, September 19 2010:

In "The State We're In" Jonathan Groubert and his team look at current events from an unexpected perspective.

Socialite in the slums: Ever since police massacred eight street kids in 1993, Yvonne Bezerra de Mello has devoted herself to educating the children of Rio de Janiero’s slums. Her school attracts international attention for its success, while she’s attracted death threats.

Behind the cute smiles: Paul Peterson was a Mouseketeer and Donna Reed’s TV son. Today, he campaigns against the exploitation of children in the entertainment industry.

It’s the thought: Radio Netherlands Producer, Dheera Sujan, thought she was doing the right thing when she offered to finance the education of a young boy she met in Malawi. But the boy’s family disowned him as a result of her gift, and she’s still haunted over whether she did the right thing.

Sounds of the earth: Luis Szaran is Paraguay’s most famous musician and conductor, and he’s started a programme to get musical instruments (many of them made from junk) to kids from poor, rural areas and city slums.

The laugh that would not die: Listener Lisabet de Vos and her cousin shared a chuckle about the supposed correlation between the size of a man’s index finger and another part of his anatomy. They broke out laughing when they went to a public lecture and glanced at the keynote speaker’s large hands. She confesses all to Jonathan about her ‘laugh that wouldn’t die’.

Sunday, September 19 and Monday, September 20 2010:

This week's book on "Radio Books": The Distance - by Jeroen Theunissen.

Belgian poet and novelist Jereon Theunissen was born and lives in Ghent. His story 'The Distance' is about homelessness - but not the sort we usually think about. A Canadian man takes a job with a mining company in a remote part of the world. He is oblivious to local protests, understands little of the local language and sets off on a vacation which could change his perspective.

Monday, September 20 and Tuesday, September 21 2010:

"Network Europe" - a collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters. A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe.

Wednesday, September 22 and Thursday, September 23 2010: Radio Netherlands

"Reloaded" is a chance to catch up with some of the highlights from recent programmes: the best, the most interesting or newsworthy, or sometimes the funniest, chosen by the producers and presented by Mindy Ran.

Friday, September 24 2010:

In "Earth Beat" Marnie Chesterton looks at the footprint we are leaving on our planet and runs stories of the people trying to make that footprint lighter.

This week's topic: considering creative ways of reinventing and reusing space. The presenters discover how disused urban areas can take on a whole new meaning and visit a palace where chickens take pride of place.

Radio New Zealand InternationalSaturday, September 18, Sunday, September 19 and Monday, September 20 2010: Radio New Zealand International

RNZI is New Zealand's only shortwave station, broadcasting to the Island nations of the Pacific. Its broadcasts range from Papua New Guinea in the west across to French Polynesia in the east, covering all South Pacific countries in between.

"Fresh Air" with Terry Gross, the Peabody Award-winning weekday magazine of contemporary arts and issues, is one of public radio's most popular programmes. Though "Fresh Air" has been categorised as a "talk show", it hardly fits the mould. Its 1994 Peabody Award citation credits Fresh Air with "probing questions, revelatory interviews and unusual insights". And a variety of top publications count Gross among America's leading interviewers. The show gives interviews as much time as needed, and complements them with comments from well-known critics and commentators.

In "Fresh Air" this week, Singer Theo Bleckmann talks about his love of show tunes and avante garde music. He has a new CD called "I Dwell in Possibility".

In Europe: 1100 BST / 1200 CET

Radio Romania InternationalFriday, September 17 and Saturday, September 18 2010:

This week, "A Challenge for the Future" talks about a recent revolutionary discovery made by Romanian researchers: the telocytes. They are cells, which alongside stem cells can help diseased organs, such as the heart, recover.

Saturday, September 18 and Sunday, September 19 2010:

"World of Culture" will be featuring contemporary writer Mircea Cartarescu, the best selling writer in Romania at present, whose work has been translated in dozens of languages. “RRI Encyclopedia” will talk about Romanians and federalism. And the “Roots” will look at the healing power of plants.

Sunday, September 19 and Monday, September 20 2010:

This week "Inside Romania" looks at an interesting and new phenomenon in Romania – music and juggling in the Circus Park in Bucharest, a phenomenon which is widespread across Western Europe.

Monday, September 20 and Tuesday, September 21 2010:

"Pro Memoria" will look at the reign of King Carol II of Romania.

Tuesday, September 21 and Wednesday, September 22 2010:

The "Business Club" brings a report on the beer market in Romania.

Thursday, September 23 and Friday, September 24 2010:"Traveller's Guide" invites us to the festival of cheese and smoked mutton hosted by the town of Bran, in Brasov county.

This week on "Seascapes": Heave Away, a sea shanty special with special guest Pat Sheridan, a distinguished singer, collector and enthusiast of maritime folklore, a member of the Press Gang; Garland: Warp Four and known for his outings with the late Liam Clancy and Poland’s Brasy.

In Africa and the Middle East: 0230 UTC / 0430 CAT

In Asia and the Pacific: 0230 UTC / 1230 AEDT

In Europe: 1800 UTC / 2000 CET

Sunday, September 19 and Monday, September 20 2010:

"The Irish Voice" is an eleven-part documentary series based on the sounds of Ireland over the last century presented by Brendan Balfe.

The series brings alive the cultural life of Ireland through its musicians, playwrights, authors, composers, performers, poets and pop stars. There will also be room for the bystanders, spectators and eyewitnesses to major events, as well as the ordinary citizen.

While concentrating on Ireland, the programmes also feature the Anglo-Irish and European experience, as well as the contribution Ireland has made to American culture, not least on stage and film.

In North America: 1400 ET / 1100 PT

In Africa and the Middle East: 0330 UTC / 0530 CAT1930 UTC / 2130 CAT

In Asia and the Pacific: 0330 UTC / 1330 AEDT1930 UTC / Mon 0530 AEDT

In Europe: 1800 UTC / 2000 CET

Wednesday, September 22 2010: RTE Ireland

"This Week" gives you an in-depth look at events making the news in the past seven days. Tune in to hear Irish views and commentaries.

In this week's headlines: Taoiseach Brian Cowen explains the Government's decision to split Anglo Irish Bank and says that the cost of capitalising the bank will be known next month.

Colm Ó Mongáin looks at the job prospects for the 14% of the labour force that are unemployed.

In North America: 2100 ET / 1800 PT

In Africa and the Middle East: 0330 UTC / 0530 CAT

In Asia and the Pacific: 0330 UTC / 1330 AEDT

Thursday, September 23 2010:

The arts and culture programme "Arena" looks at what's on in the world of arts and entertainment and is presented by Seán Rocks.

"Arena" features guests and items from the worlds of movies, television, music and literature.

In Africa and the Middle East: 0330 UTC / 0530 CAT

In Asia and the Pacific: 0330 UTC / 1330 AEDT

United Nations RadioSaturday, September 18, Sunday, September 19 and Monday, September 20 2010: United Nations Radio "UN and Africa"

"UN and Africa" is a weekly, 15-minute radio programme that aims to cover topical and current affairs-related stories about what the UN is doing for Africa, in Africa and about Africa.

This week's topics:

Security is a major issue in Sudan in the run-up to the referendum on independence for the southern part of the country in January next year. Upper Nile state played a strategic role during the two decade civil war between the north and the south. With the onset of the rainy season, the UN mission has found a new way of patrolling the region.

Experts from around the world are set to gather in Vienna next week to discuss cancer in developing countries. Treating cancer patients is a challenge in Africa. A South African cancer treatment expert says the continent is short of hundreds of machines for radiotherapy.

The 1994 genocide Rwanda left scars to the country’s population. The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) is working to bring justice for the genocide victims. At the same time, an ICTR officer says there is progress in the promotion of reconciliation in Rwanda.